The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 357: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

326 REYNOLDS’ WORKS But enough, Christian. Let your sister continue to dwell with her Highness — until — ” And again Mr. Redcliffe stopped short, as if every instant he were afraid that in the excitement of his feelings he should be betrayed into the utterance of something more than he might choose to reveal. But our young hero was himself too full of varied emotions to perceive, much less to suspect the precise nature of those that were agitating his benefactor, and again was his heartfelt gratitude poured forth to Mr. Redcliffe. This gentleman now said to our hero, ‘‘ Tell me, Christian, everything connected with your earlier years; reveal to me in fullest detail all that regards yourself and your sister, from your most infantile recollections down to the period when I first became acquainted with you in London. Do not think it is mere idle curiosity on my part, but I feel so deep an interest in your amiable sister and yourself that everything which in any way concerns you is of im- portance in my estimation.” Christian proceeded to comply with his benefactor’s re- quest; his narrative was, however, concise enough, and was speedily told. “To-morrow,” said Mr. Redcliffe, “immediately after breakfast you shall go and fetch your sister to pass the day with us. I will give you a note for the Princess Indora, so that her assent shall at once be conceded. Ah, and request your sister, my dear Christian, to bring with her those little relics to which you have just alluded in your narrative, for, as I have said, everything that regards you has an interest in my eyes— and— and I have a curiosity to see those cherished objects which belonged to your deceased mother, and which your uncle Mr. Ashton placed in your hands when you were both old enough to receive possession of them and to appreciate it.”’ We need not further extend the description of this touch- ing and pathetically exciting scene which took place between Mr. Redcliffe and our hero. Suffice it to say that the remainder of the evening was passed in most friendly conversation on the part of the benefactor and the recipient of his bounties, so that when Christian retired to his couch he had every reason to felicitate himself upon this evening as being one of the happiest and most fortunate in his somewhat chequered existence. ECORMIClIOO KS (E(0)